Thomas William Drumm
| His Excellency, The Most Reverend Thomas William Drumm | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Des Moines | |
| |
| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| See | Des Moines |
| In office | March 28, 1919 – October 24, 1933 |
| Predecessor | Austin Dowling |
| Successor | Gerald Thomas Bergan |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | December 21, 1901 by Paul Bruchési |
| Consecration | May 21, 1919 by John Joseph Keane |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 12, 1871 Fore, County Westmeath, Ireland |
| Died | October 24, 1933 (aged 62) Des Moines, Iowa, US |
| Education | St. Joseph's College Grand Seminary of Montreal Catholic University of America |
| Motto | Stet et pascat (Stand and feed) |
Thomas William Drumm (July 12, 1871 – October 24, 1933) was an Irish-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of Des Moines in Iowa from 1919 until his death in 1933.
Biography
Early life
Thomas Drumm was born on July 12, 1871, in Fore, County Westmeath in Ireland to Thomas and Mary (née Cullen) Drumm.[1] He came to the United States in 1888, and began his studies at St. Joseph's College in Dubuque, Iowa.[1] Drumm then entered the Grand Seminary of Montreal in Montreal, Quebec.
Priesthood
Drumm was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Dubuque in Montreal by Archbishop Paul Bruchési on December 21, 1901.[2] He then furthered his studies at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.[1] After his ordination, the archdiocese assigned Drumm to pastoral positions in several missions. He was named pastor of St. Patrick's Parish in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1915.[1]
Bishop of Des Moines
On March 28, 1919, Drumm was appointed the second bishop of Des Moines by Pope Benedict XV.[3] He received his episcopal consecration at the Cathedral of Saint Raphael in Dubuque, Iowa, on May 21, 1919, from Archbishop John Joseph Keane, with Bishops James J. Davis and Edmond Heelan serving as co-consecrators.[2] In 1924 he became the first Catholic bishop to preach regularly on the radio, offering monthly broadcasts on WHO-AM in Des Moines.
Drumm died in Des Moines on October 24, 1933 at age 62.[2]
References
- Back to citation occurrence 1.0 Back to citation occurrence 1.1 Back to citation occurrence 1.2 Back to citation occurrence 1.3 O'Donnell, John Hugh (1922). "The Catholic Hierarchy of the United States, 1790-1922". The Catholic University of America Studies in American Church History. IV. Washington, D.C. hdl:2027/uc2.ark:/13960/t5r786c77.
- Back to citation occurrence 2.0 Back to citation occurrence 2.1 Back to citation occurrence 2.2 "Bishop Thomas William Drumm [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
- Back to citation "BISHOP DRUMM, 62, DIES IN DES MOINES; Head of the Roman Catholic Diocese in Iowa for More Than 14 Years". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-07-24.